And by then, I could die of thirst.

SO I do the one thing I didn't want to do.

I stick my arm out with my thumb up; I am hitchhiking. Please do not be a murderer and take me to a deserted plantation with the intention of using my face for a mask. I stare at the dirt cloud in awe. "Geez," I murmur, taking off my shades. I frown, this guy is going really fast, he might not even see me. I get a little nervous and walk up in the grass bank, now scared he could end up hitting me.

I wave my arm in hopes that whoever it is will spot me through all the dust he is stirring up. I gasp and jump back as the car passes me, then slams on the breaks making a horribly loud sound. My heart is beating fast as I start to cough from all of the dust and dirt.

I squint my eyes and see him backing up, most likely to ask if I need a ride. I feel nervous and a little confused. The car that is coming into view is the fanciest white sports car I have ever seen. Like, even on T.V., it looks like something from the future.

Whoever is driving this is giving off crazy vibes.

It's a convertible, I realize.

My eyes widen when I see who is sitting in the driver's seat. It's not a man at all; it's a stunning older woman. She has a black and white scarf around her silver hair, and her eyes are covered with large black sunglasses. She lowers her shades and gives me a once over; her vibrant red lips turn into a smile.

I am speechless.

What the hell is she doing here?!

In this small town?!

"Hello, Sugar. It looks like you could use a ride?"

I think I nod.

"Thirsty?"

I frown. "A bit, t—thank you miss."

So strange.

She chuckles and presses a button on the dash, and the car makes weird sounds with flashing lights. What the hell kind of car is this?! And who is the lady that looks like she stepped out of an Aubrey Hepburn movie? The woman presses a button, and a compartment opens with a drink inside. I gape as she pulls out a sparkling martini.

"I think you might need something a little stronger, my dear," She says with a smile and plops a sizeable green olive in the dirty martini.

"I think I might be hallucinating," I say, feeling a bit mystified.

The woman pours a small amount from the martini into a shot glass. "You never take a drink from someone unless you know it's safe. She downs the shot and smiles, "Come, we have much to chat about."

"We do?"

"Put your suitcase in the back and get in child," she orders, sounding impatient.

I am not sure why, but I do as she says. The royal blue of the interior is stunning, and I can smell the rich leather. I sit in the car and shut the door, taking a calming breath. I should not take the drink from this strange woman, but I really would like one. I'd probably do just about anything right now.

Bath salts here I come!

Kidding.

"Here, drink Charlie," she says.

I grab the drink the shoot her a look. "What did you just call me?"

"Charlie Wilford, I know a lot about you."

I take a big swig of the cocktail even though I know I should not, thinking the sun must have fried my brains and my good sense. "I'm sorry, but did you just say you know a lot about me?"

What the freak is going on here.

I might just tell her to drop me off at Sesame Street.

She looks at me, pulling me out of my thoughts. "I am from Fairy Godmother Inc, you know, the letter in your pocket?"

In my pocket?!

My eyes widen, realizing this was the gig I received. "Oh!" I cover my mouth, "You drove out here to get me?! How the hell did you know where I was? And why?"

She smiles as she looks at her perfect manicure. "Well, Pierce was supposed to, but he is with the other girls. I usually never come on the extractions. He is not too happy I'm driving his precious car. You know we wanted you yesterday? I do hate when we are not taken seriously."

I am speechless, wondering if I should get out of the car. "I am so sorry, I was going to go, but," I pause with a frown as flashes of Tanner's naked body with women draped over him. "Life got in the way."

"Ahh, yes, life. Well, lucky for you, I am offering you a chance at a new one," She says and takes off her shades to stare at me. "This is a once in a lifetime experience."

I stare back at her. "What? And who is Pierce?"

"You will know Pierce soon enough. I was prepared to do this without you, but Pierce always has a knack for picking out girls. He seems to think your southern background will be ideal for this mission," she says and tilts her head at me. "I must say he may have a point. If not the southern background, your looks might do the trick."

Just wait.

"I'm sorry miss, but this is very strange. I can't believe you came all this way to get me for this gig. Is it acting, television? I'm unclear on what this is all about. "

"Well, we can't discuss this here, in this hot sun, now can we?"

I give her a look. "You have an airplane somewhere?"

"Better." She hands me a document. "I need you to sign, or I can't take you anywhere. We need to be at the headquarters."

I frown as I look at it. "Is this a contract?"

"Yes, child, now hurry."

"I have not agreed to anything," I say, feeling like I am in the twilight zone. "I can't sign unless I know what I am signing."

Duh.

Every child knows this.

"Of course you can, trust me. If you want an adventure, then you have to sign the contract, or I can drop you off at your cousin's. Which, might be a bad idea; her husband is fresh out of prison and likes the young ladies," she says very seriously.

I swallow.

"How do you know that?" I ask, feeling my pulse hammering.

"Sign the contract. You will not regret it, Charlie."

I look down at the contact, and I can hear my Mama's voice telling me what a fool I am if I sign. But there is something about this woman that makes me trust her, the sound of her rich voice almost eases my fears.

I sign it.

I shiver, feeling like I might have gotten into something that is way over my head, out of my pay grade. I look at her and say, "Now what?"

She claps her hands, "Hold on, child. I am about to make your dreams come true..."

I smile at her as my body starts to feel tingly. I gasp, hoping she didn't put something in my drink. "Did you drug me!?"

All I hear is her saying is, "Take a deep breath, this might hurt."

Blackness.

Deep blackness.